rederique Constant unveils a rare and refined evolution of its manufacture tourbillon: a dial in natural mother-of-pearl, housed within an 18-carat white gold case.

The unexpected pairing of tourbillon and mother-of-pearl creates a subtle and warm harmony, enhancing soft hues of grey and blue that accentuate the purity of the case, the brilliance of the hand-applied indexes, the blued screws of the silicon escapement tourbillon, and the ever-changing lustre of the mother-of-pearl. Measuring just 39 mm, this timepiece sheds new light on the Geneva-based maison’s prestigious complication, introduced in 2008 and driven by the FC-980 calibre. A radiant, luminous timepiece of exceptional character, it is limited to just 36 individually numbered pieces.

A rare and precious creation, this piece is destined for only a select few collectors, those who step off the beaten track and embrace bold chromatic contrasts. Mother-of-pearl, with its natural nobility, touches the heart and stirs emotion. Constantly shifting with the light, never identical, never entirely flat, it fascinates with its depth and vitality. Each of the 36 pieces in the Classic Tourbillon Manufacture series is inherently unique, and duly numbered as such.

Its vibrant, three-dimensional design paves the way for a new form of horological expression. The reflections from the dial echo the magic of the ever-rotating manufacture tourbillon. Completing a revolution every 60 seconds, the central hand attached to the tourbillon indicates the seconds as it sweeps across a complex architecture of blued screws, polished bevels, and bridges finished with satin or mirror polishing, meeting the highest standards of Swiss fine watchmaking. Each Classic Tourbillon Manufacture watch is entirely hand-assembled at the Geneva manufacture, explaining the highly limited number of pieces available.

This homage to tradition is perfectly balanced by the modernity of the FC-980 calibre, now in its fourth generation thanks to its 2023 update. It features a silicon escapement, which offers resistance to magnetic fields and temperature fluctuations. Reliable and precise, continuously refined by Frederique Constant for over 15 years, this calibre powers the Classic Tourbillon Manufacture with a 38-hour power reserve. For uninterrupted admiration of its finely decorated movement - chamfering, circular graining, stretched flanks, and mirror polishing - the tourbillon is visible from both the front and back.

For the dial, Frederique Constant has chosen a minimalist aesthetic to allow the natural beauty of the mother-of-pearl to take centre stage. The dial bears only three inscriptions, essential to the manufacture’s identity: Frederique Constant – Geneva – Swiss Made. Nothing more is needed. The rest is expressed through exquisite finishing: two polished hands, applied indexes, a fully mirror-polished 18-carat white gold 39mm case, and a light blue alligator leather strap with a folding clasp. A pure, understated design that serves as a refined showcase for the iridescent beauty of mother-of-pearl.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Reference FC-980MPBL3H8

Functions

• Hours, Minutes, 60 Seconds tourbillon

Movement

• FC-980-4 in-house caliber, automatic
• Chamfering (anglage), circular graining (perlage & cerclage), flanks drawing (étirage des flancs), mirror polishing (poli miroir) decorations
• Silicon escapement wheel and anchor
• 38-hour power reserve, 28’800 alt/h, 33 jewels

Case

• Polished 18K white gold 3-part case
• Diameter of 39 mm
• Height of 10,99 mm
• Anti-reflective convex sapphire crystal
• Water-resistant up to 3 ATM/30m/100ft
• Engraved and see-through threaded case back

Dial

• Blue-grey mother-of-pearl dial
• Applied silver color diamond cut indexes
• Hand-polished silver color hour and minute hands
• Heart Beat opening at 6 o’clock with 60 seconds tourbillon, silver color second hand

Strap

• Light blue alligator leather strap with tone-on-tone stitching Folding buckle

Limited edition

• Limited to 36 pieces
• Individual limited edition number engraved on the movement and case back